He scrubbed his hand over his chin, tension riddling his lean frame. She sensed it had been a long time since he’d talked about this. In fact, this might be the first time he ever had.
“Go on,” she coaxed.
“I put off taking my cattle to market for as long as I could. But I needed the money, so I had to go. I thought they’d come after me, kill the rest of my stock on the trail, but I arrived without incident. I didn’t realize my mistake until I got home… I never thought they’d go after my family, but while I was gone, they raped and killed my wife, Hannah. They shot my little son, Jeremiah. They took everything I ever loved.” His voice trembled with emotion. “I went to the authorities, but no one would listen. The rancher owned the local sheriff. So… I took matters into my own hands.”
“Oh, Zach.” She ached for what he’d been through, couldn’t imagine the pain of knowing he’d failed to protect his family.
“It wasn’t enough to kill them once. I’d do it again if I had the chance. Even if it means burning in hell for all eternity.”
His words erased the last of her doubts. Deep down, she’d known he wasn’t a bad man. Anyone who could show her such kindness had to have been driven into darkness by forces beyond his control.
She buried her hands in his thick, silky hair and urged his head down toward hers. “Then kiss me. Make me forget the past. Make me forget everything except you and this moment.”
